On the first day of the National Safety Congress and Expo held in September in San Diego, it was apparent by strolling the expo aisles and talking with vendors that many are adapting an approach to the broad safety marketplace that emphasizes PPE for specific vertical markets. The top markets for PPE: oil and gas, chemical, metal fabrication/automotive, life sciences/electronics, construction and utilities.
The oil and gas industry, otherwise known as the energy extraction and processes industries, is by far the most talked about by vendors at the NSC. And they are talking about investments in safety on a global scale. You see oil and gas gloves, boots, uniforms, headgear, etc. and promotional signage and photography up and down the expo’s 50+ aisles.